Woman's body found near trail in canyon

Tuesday

Authorities declined to identify the woman, whom Randall County Sherriff's Department spokesman Danny Alexander described as a former foreign exchange student from Germany who'd been visiting her host family in Canyon.

Authorities said the cause of death has not been determined.

Hikers found the woman between 5 and 6 p.m. about a fourth of a mile from the head of Lighthouse Trail, authorities said. She'd been hiking the trail with a friend from Canyon in the afternoon when the two became separated, Alexander said.

The hiking companion continued to the trailhead and notified park officials that the woman was missing, Alexander said. Officials said Texas Parks and Wildlife crews began a search at about 4 p.m. with assistance from the Canyon Fire Department and the Randall County Sheriff's Department. Other hikers in the canyon found her.

Randall County Justice of the Peace Jerry Bigham pronounced the woman dead at the scene, officials said.

Alexander said her host family has been told of the death, but he was unsure whether the woman's family in Germany has been notified.

An autopsy has been ordered, authorities said.

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